Mobile freak is back again. Glad to see you're still alive and still obsessed as ever. Your personal problems are of no interest to us. However, if you feel compelled to keep posting, could you please add a bit of humour in order to improve the entertainment value of your pitiful saga?

From:

American
Sarcasm
Society

(Was I able to sneak that one by the censors?)

How long does it take until the SE Region realizes that you have to see and hear by yourself, not have one female "show" you things?

Little former Mobile has "seen" and "heard" all by herself her whole life.

Shame shame, all the other did was remind her of something she already knew by the time she was 9 months old, that's 28 years behind.

Most of the talent in R&D that made the individual companies what they were at one time, is long gone. Much was gone before Siemens even started their acquisitions and more has gone over the past several years. It is doubtful that Siemens currently has the critical mass to develop a new system even combining all of their R&D sites. They don't have enough people who have been through the process successfully and know what's really involved. At bset, they can come up with another product line extension that integrates the best of what they already have. But it will still be an old Dimension, Vista, Centaur with a few bells and whistles (or not as in the case of Gen-a-mess). And if that is the best they can do, their long term future doesn't seem bright.

Once you lose the talent and experience and history of success, you also lose all the things those people know that are not written down in some notebook And it just can't be recreated out of thin air.

It's kind of difficult to grow when 2 big R&D centers had major product development disasters. So much for Siemens trying to balance risk when both Dade and Bayer were equally incompetent. Growth prospects in Europe are now 0% due to a new continental-wide recession. Even Asia is having problems with China facing a real estate collapse on top of a slowing manufacturing sector. Japan is entering a recession. The US pretends everything is improving when there are clear signs of fubdamental deterioration such as people dropping out of the workforce because they cannot find work. And so the noose tightens around Siemens future business prospects.

I have been reading all comments in this blog I live in Mexico and I just can tell that the same situation is happening here, Siemens came and bought a succesful DX companies and incredibly and slowly
It has been destroying it. Our people if they aren´t fired they are migrating to other companies like Roche, abbott, beckman coulter.

The cash cow concept for Immulite was actually a well thought out basic strategy if you think about its rationale. The problem is that even a cash cow needs to be managed properly as does its transition from growth product to cash cow. Siemens did not have a clue as to how to do this and how to shut down LA which was an integral part of the plan. They seemed totally lost when it came to transfer of technology and manufacturing from one site to another.

Both the Bayer and Dade components had developed processes from transferring complex manufacturing procedures, yet their expertise was barely used. LA is still open and the cash cow is delivering sour cream. A useful product, but it does tend to clog the reagent lines. The failure to maximize the potential benefit of a large installed base of Immulite systems is symptomatic of their entire to understand some of the unique aspects of diagnostics. And they don't even seem to have a clue as to where to turn for some real, practical, ways to fix things. The experts they hire only give them pre-canned, generalized, politically correct solution options and usually recommend the one in the middle.

Good planning, but terrible execution.

True, Tarrytown isn't what it use to be.
Nothing really new in development. Basically we're in patch and fix mode for either Centaur or Immulite.
Way too many reagent issues...and most of those who knew how to fix a problem have left for greener pastures or were part of layoff.
Centaur is still doing reasonably well. The "cash cow" philosophy of purchasing Immulite definitely didn't pan out. More like a dead cow now. The people working on it at this site have basically given up on a handful of kits already.
I've heard the layoff rumor as well but we've dodged so many bullets the past seven years I'm hopeful this one will just come and go.

Any other sites hear anything?

Apparently it was also going around other sites including Flanders and LA.
Just have to wait and see.

Any detail on departments to be affected? The building appears pretty empty right now. The largest occupier of space, R&D, seems completely dead with no signs of anything that resembles past days when new systems were being developed and older ones supported and enhanced. Not a single sign of any enthusiasm. Wtih no new producs to sell, sounds like marketing and sales aren't exactly overworked. If you think about it, other than basic business and support services such as legal, regulatory, QA central, etc. it is almost impossible to see what the rest of Tarrytown is delivering to the bottom line. None of the existing departments can be completely eliminated, but without anything major going on, it sounds like alot of consolidation could be accomplished.

All of this lmost makes one wonder why Siemens wouldn't be looking for a smaller facility, even it's a new one they lease for the short term and it's nearby. Lot's of possibilities, including that the rumour, like so many before it, is false.

New Rumor going around Tarrytown has another layoff scheduled around summertime. Apparently the bean counters think most sites have much too many people for the amount of work being generated.
Has anyone else heard this?

Yes, it is. Mine is smaller, more compact, and infinitely more efficient. So much for those who still believe that size is everything and that bigger is always better.

my point • is bigger than yours.

If Siemens Dx is a house of cards then why don't they fall? In the meantime they are destroying the market in an attempt to make sales at any price. They are waddling around like penguins with their pricing around their ankles. What is the point of sales if you make no margin to cover your overheads and make no money for shareholders?

The other Siemens divisions must be spewing at the poor performance of Dx.
What will it take for Siemens corporate to say "Enough is enough,
Diagnostics be gone"

Yes.

Is this your point ---> . <---

He is a VERY IMPORTANT person. If you don't believe me, just as him. Try to listen carefully to him some time. The words are English. They seem to form into sentences. But much of it is just a meaningless string of words that say nothing. He's a master of vague.

Is Alex G still BS? This Guy is unique in Flanders He never went to school but he is a Director of systems engineering, can you imagine.

哈哈, so true, so chinese.

"my chinese coworker often type "ha ha" on anything."

You will be able to get your revenge when memos start appearing in Chinese and all you will be able to do is write HA HA on them !!!

The new Siemens sales slogan will be geared to those who buy at least 6 products from them:

With Six You Get Eggroll

and maybe a forecast from the hippy-dippy weather man.

A bit esoteric or just stretching too much for a laugh? But, seriosuly folks, what else can one do about Siemens other than laugh?

HA HA

Less "Ha Ha", more english please.

my chinese coworker often type "ha ha" on anything.

You must be referring to the king of the project killers, DS. He had a long history of killing project with his 'it's not in the schedule, I don't have the resources, or the project will be delayed and they will fire us all'. Yet, over a 30 year period, and under a variety of owners, DS managed to charm his superiors into believing him, while at the same time destroying a few careers along the way. DS, more than any single individual, is responsible for the decline of Technicon from their dominance in the early 80s to their current state. During that time, he was not responsible for a single successful product or project.

Don't blame Siemens too much on Gen-A-Mess. They were charmed and fooled by the best.

Siemens never instilled the discipline engineering process on the R&D people. That would have stopped MOST of the bleeding. Products that work always sell. Think about the cost of pissing away a year on Gen-a-mess after a known bug was discoverd, but would not be addressed because it "wasn't in the schedule". Then think about the larger costs associated with shutting down the whole project!!! Obviously project managers don't know what they are doing; and those who do, get frustrated and leave (myself included). Siemens DX is a house of cards in the process of crashing. Unfortunately not too many life boats are out there at the moment.

Siemens DX is bad, but in this job market? you should get used to your retirement and stop spreading lies.
End Quote

Ha Ha, just another Siemens kitten praying they don't shutdown.

I work for Roche. My department has so many ex-Siemens DX employees they can start their own little country.
They all say the same thing about "getting out" and enjoy living again. Just hard to believe how one company got it so wrong.
Roche management loves it. The influx of skilled employee's (Bayer, Dade and DPC training) from Siemens has made re-training easy, quick and on the money.

So, on behalf of everyone here at Roche, Thank you Siemens DX.

Interesting to compare Roche and Siemens. Roche was basically nothing in diagnostics until they bought Boehringer-Mannheim. They had a very small share of the basic market, but had many systems in the field that customers used to develop their own esoteric methods for the most part (e.g, large system place, small aftermarket revenue trail). BMD was an interesting company by itsself since it was the one major success of a joint venture between an intrument company (Hitachi) and a chemical company (Boehringer). They even managed success despite the different national cultures.

It sounds like Roche knew enough to not interfere too much with the BMD success. Both Siemens and Roche acquired roughly one-third of the clinical chemistry market at the time of purchase. Roche pretty much maintained their position; Siemens let theirs disappear into thin air. My guess is that Roche retained alot of their most important talent. Siemens did not (some of it had already left prior to the sales). It is hard to imagine that Siemens management can look around and find an hardcore team of individuals with a good history of success in diagnostics, be it in sales, R&D, QA, or manufacturing. Without that kind of internal talent, Siemens will stay condemned to third, fourth, or fifth place.

Siemens DX is bad, but in this job market? you should get used to your retirement and stop spreading lies.
END QUOTE

Just another example on how the truth hurts.
Siemens DX doesn't need anyone to spread lies. They do that quite well on their own.
The Diagnostic Division is falling apart and many labs have already sent back their platforms.
Isn't it amazing how a company spends billions to become #1 and then six years later they are already lower than #4 in the marketplace.
Yes, I'm also enjoying my retirement though shortlived. Just got a job offer from Roche.

"Positions remain open for months on end due to the fact that anyone in the industry, internal or external, will not take the positions."

Siemens DX is bad, but in this job market? you should get used to your retirement and stop spreading lies.

WOW am I glad I was one of the lucky few that got packages in the Sept/Oct reorganization of Diagnostics.

All I hear from my former peers is that the Siemens organization has no clue of what they are doing and the new structure is not working. Siemens Diagnostics is losing business hand over fist and the moral of the remaining sales force is in the dirt. They are having a hard time filling positions from those that could no longer take the chaos. Positions remain open for months on end due to the fact that anyone in the industry, internal or external, will not take the positions. The few they have hired are directly from the lab and have no sales training or technical knowledge of the Siemens products. They will end up spending the next 6 months or more in Siemens indoctrination and training classes and then be sent out "drive the business". Good Luck with that strategy.

Again I was extremely lucky, I had already made plans to leave Siemens in 2013 when the reorganization plans were rolled out. Siemens gave me a tremendous severance (retirement) package that I would not have received if I had resigned as planned this last January.

Thank you Siemens!!!

If Siemens wanted to sell DX they are making it daily harder for themselves then as we are being integrated ever deeper into their healthcare division - that would be a bit stupid wouldn't it if the plan was to even consider a sell off as it would need reversing! In the UK all DX staff were effectively re-employed under Siemens Healthcare, management merged and DX is gone. I think that rumour should be sunk once and for all. 'DX' will sink or swim as just a set of product lines within healthcare and the people connected with particular lines.

LOL. I think they have their hands full. The last thing they need is another woman backing into a guillotine (disaster). There are already plenty of rumours of Siemens wanting to sell of part of all of diagnostics, although, realistically, it is hard to imagine a potential buy at a price even close to what Siemens paid. And as bad as things seem to be, I can't stop this nagging feeling that Siemens has something up their sleeve. They are already reasonably successful with a variety of medical-related products. I have heard very little negative about them reputation-wise with their imaging and other medical products, other than diagnostics. People may not see MR much these days, but he is still there. The appears to be little sign of panic or any major course changes. That suggests to me that diagnostics is proceeding close enough to some plan to call things acceptable.

It's either that or Siemens upper management is a bunch of spaced-out, hippy-dippy, freaked-out weathermen who have secret rites of worhsipping George Carlin.

Ha-Ha...perhaps they should consider purchasing Ortho Clinical Diagnostics!

Two levels of integration were needed by Siemens. The first, they recognized. This was about consolidating product lines, people and facilities. Siemens seemed to understand this when they stopped further work on Immulite and, mercifully, killed Advia IMS. They were headed in a reasonable direction by trying to shut down LA and move production to Llanberis since Immulite was always destined to be a cash cow. They put their major resources into Vista. All of the above suggests a plan was in place and attempts were made to carry it out. The overall plan here failed, or, has at least been running extremely slow and behind schedule, primarily do the Siemens complete lack of understanding of some of the unique characteristics of diagnostics.

The second level was to integrate culturally. Specifically, this meant changing from a mix of Bayer, Dade, and DPC culture into a single coherenet Siemens culture. Siemens just assumed that employees would be totally thrilled to work for an high quality company like Siemens and would eagerly and willingly adapt to the 'new order. Unfortunately, Siemens was way off base on this one. The transition did not take place naturally, nor did Siemens do anywhere enough to make it happen.

After all of these years, it seems there are only two possibilities. Siemens has tried and failed to nurture a single, dynamic organization as a result of incompetance or lack of understanding of their new workforce, or they really don't care about any of the existing Dade, Bayer, and DPC people and plan to create an entirely new organization (guess where) based on the proprietary technology of each of the three components.

Either way, it seems that Siemens is nowhere close to where they expected to be now with respect to sales, profits, new products, consolidation, or image.

Sound dismal? It is.

One wonders if the bickering is widespread at Siemens or just a few disgruntled posters here.
END QUOTE

The reality is the bickering is far more widespread than listed on the mill.
Billions were spent on a failed integration. Siemens DX is still generally known as Bayer, Dade and DPC.
The current CEO, MR, has, for most part, gone under the radar as well.

One wonders if the bickering is widespread at Siemens or just a few disgruntled posters here. If these feelings really do exist to any extent within diagnostics, it would suggest major failure of upper managemnt in terms of creating a cohesive organization that can grow. It really has been far too long for people to still be talking about DPC, Bayer, and Dade being the enemy.

"Siemens took a real hit when they acquired Dade. This is the worst upper management team in the history of Siemens DX !!!"

Agreed. However it is not dade. Look who's there. If anyone is to blame is it the bayer pukes and the dade sycophants with brown noses.
Not only that, the middle managers have all gone long ago and the new ones they picked are useless.
This is a company with management issues from top to bottom.
The good field reps leave when they can get a chance,

You are being way too harsh on Siemens. When it comes to diagnostics, Siemens is like a little child in a candy shop. They want everything, but they know nothing about the candy itself. They simply taste one piece after another, looking for the sweetest one. They show all of the innocence and naivete of a child and should be pitied more than chastised. Once you understand the above, you will know how to deal with Siemens and, hopefully, find it in your hearts to forgive their transgressions. The good intent it all there .... they just don't have a clue.

I think Siemens needs to change their marketing culture. I am so sick of their arrogance thinking they do have the best systems out there. Think again!

Siemens really need to identify their best products and get rid of the rest. They need to improve on the Centaur, espeically with assay performance. Their FDA warning letters and the poor precision with the VitD assay is a telling sign that they have the wrong objectives for their mission.

It's a tribute to the failure of Siemens to integrate diagnostics that there is still so much finger pointing going on and too much Bayer, Dade, DPC thinking and not enough Siemens thinking. Siemens grossly underestimated the differences in cultures and what it would take to blend them into one that would fit in with Siemens culture. Perhaps Siemens is headed in a different direction in which integrating the three components is not nearly as important as taking the best technology and products of each and forming them into a completely new organization.

Keep an eye on all the signs.

Siemens took a real hit when they acquired Dade. This is the worst upper management team in the history of Siemens DX !!!

Several Senior Management were given RosettaStone Chinese.

Can you say 診斷的總部將設在中國? Ja oder nein?

Excellent! Very funny!

You forgot one more though.
Agenda China.
When sites finally begin to close this is where they'll be headed.

Siemens DX Ten Year Game Plan was accidently leaked in an unsecured memo to top Management.

Here is is:
Agenda 2013, Agenda 2014, Agenda 2015, Agenda 2016, Agenda 2017, Agenda 2018, Agenda 2019, Agenda 2020, Agenda 2021, Agenda 2022 and Agenda 23.

If you plan on staying then plan on your career going nowhere.
Your choice, your life.

Then don't come here. Problem solved.

you are all so boring

Siemens DX Management is one the the most stupid management i have ever seen in my life they are continuously loosing the market share but still they think they are Siemens which means better and 30% expensive than others in-order to keep the Siemens image.They only talk about the sales and targets and they don't care about providing long term solution to customers.Siemens DX is playing like Imaging that they only want one time deal and then run away forever.

By definition Siemens management does not deal with reality - ever. So the beauty is they'll never know or understand. Only when the business cannot support paying the management will reality ever leak in. We could be years from this point though! Many layers still left to be squeezed and cut.

One of the great ironies of our modern economic system is what happens within a company when major layoffs are anticipated. The expectation of management is that the dead wood will all bail out and leave, thus saving them the costs associated with layoffs. After all, from management's point of view, they are the the most vulnerable and should know it so they will be the first to leave.

Then there is reality.

The worst performers, the ones that management wants to leave are, obviously the least likely to find another job. They are the most likely to prefer their 'security. In contrast, the better performers are the ones who start to leave. Some leave out of paranoia and others leave because they are worried about staying with a sinking ship.

As the better performers leave, the overall performance of the company sinks and more layoffs become necessary and the cycle continues.

Kinda sucks being in Siemens management and having to deal with reality.

Like watching a train wreck in slow motion - you just can't tear your eyes away from it!

May God have mercy on your souls and the souls of your customers...

fyi, that thread is in regards to layoffs, packages and bears.
This thread is with respect to the Agenda 2013 Siemens is pushing to try and save DX from another year of major burn, stop loss of customers, end good employees from bailing and get more product out there.
It's basically a farce garage sale. East Coast labs I deal with directly are already returning instruments as soon as the lease/contract is up and then going to others like Roche. They all share no love of Siemens.
Siemens lost this war. Until they come to accept the reality of their expensive predicament and either selloff or have a major slimming down things will continue to get worse.
I'll stick around awhile longer and watch how it all comes to an end.

Just as an fyi, there is already a post for agenda 2012-2013.